Global ABS 2026 - our key takeaways

As the Global ABS Conference marked its 30th anniversary in Barcelona, Simmons & Simmons were proud to once again sponsor this flagship event. Our global structured finance team welcomed clients and industry contacts to our exhibition stand to engage in discussions on the pressing issues shaping the market. We summarise some of the key insights and takeaways from this year’s conference below.

1. Market overview and outlook

• The securitisation market remains resilient despite geopolitical and macroeconomic pressures, with new collateral, structures, and participants emerging.

2. Regulatory traction in the UK and EU

• Both the UK and EU are finalising significant changes to their securitisation regulations, with new regimes expected to go live in 2027.

3. Equity release mortgages and other nascent asset classes

• Equity release mortgage securitisation is growing and other asset classes are gaining traction as investors seek diversification.

4. Growing opportunities for securitisation in the Middle East

• Deals are often bespoke due to local legal and regulatory differences, with increasing sophistication among market participants.

5. The expanding role of private credit

• Banks and private credit funds are increasingly partnering to deliver bespoke solutions and fund a wider range of assets.

6. Artificial intelligence and digitalisation

• AI adoption and automation within the structured finance market is gradual but is expected to improve productivity and reduce costs over time.

7. Financing digital infrastructure assets

• There has been rapid growth in deals backed by digital infrastructure (e.g. data centres), with significant issuance and further growth predicted.

For deeper insights download our full post-conference round-up here.